Timekeeping precision enhancements at constant power

We study the precision of a noisy clock comprising laser-driven coupled optical cavities sustaining limit cycles. We quantify the timekeeping precision of this system via the standard deviation of the limit-cycle period and demonstrate how it changes when varying the cavity length. We find timekeeping precision enhancements at constant power and regardless of the operation frequency. Through a phase space analysis of the limit-cycle fluctuations, we reveal how the proximity of different bifurcations determines the timekeeping precision of our system regardless of the input power and oscillation frequency. We expect our results to assist in the design of clocks that must operate in the presence of strong fluctuations, such as small clocks influenced by thermal noise. While fluctuations inevitably limit the maximum precision that can be attained, our results elucidate how that limited precision can be substantially enhanced while maintaining the energy efficiency and operation frequency of the clock.